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Wouldn’t you think that Barack could get back to work in the Senate and do SOMETHING concrete for this country?
He’s being paid for this job and doing nothing.
Why can’t he pass Kennedy’s bill UI extension 2544 (which he cosponsored)?
If he can’t get things done in the Senate, don’t EVEN make promises for when it’s too late!!!!!!!!!!!
Give up a photo op, Barack, and get some work done in the Senate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Middle class America wake up! A vote for a Republican is a vote for your own demise. Is war moral or do the Republicans just use religion to sell out the well meaning and good folks of America? Remember in November!!!!!! Vote all these bums out!!!!!!!!

New York Times 12-17-2008 about Medicare coverage of prostate cancer link follows: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/health/policy/17knife.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em
I gave testimony at the following meeting regarding Medicare coverage of prostate cancer.
“Official Testimony of
Fred >>>>>, Patient
On
SBRT Treatment of Cancer of the Prostate
Palmetto GBA/Medicare Open Draft LCD meeting
November 18, 2008

Good morning Palmetto GBA administrators, doctors and other interested parties. Thank you for allowing me to discuss Medicare coverage of SBRT/CyberKnife for treating prostate cancer.
My name is Fred >>>>>> and I am a small business owner. I am testifying on behalf of myself as an interested party, a prostate cancer patient treated with the CyberKnife and a prostate cancer advocate. I am also a founder of ZERO the Project to End Prostate Cancer.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in Aug. of 2007. My PSA was 4.0 ng/ml, a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy revealed a stage T1c adenocarcinoma involving the right mid to right apex with a Gleason score of 3+3; in 3 of 12 cores.
I discussed all treatment options with my family doctor, doctors at Stanford, Surgeons and Radiation Oncologists. I reviewed all options with my wife. As a father of a nine year old son, Business owner, treatment recovery time was an important consideration. I have a clogged artery which made the risk of surgery higher than I was willing to consider.
I selected SBRT/CyberKnife treatment option for prostate cancer at Stanford. Their clinical trial data, started Dec. 2003, was very encouraging with ZERO biological failures and minimal side effects (my research suggested the CyberKnife is at least as effective as IMRT). My CyberKnife treatment was five days of one hour sessions with no recovery time (IMRT is five days per week for eight weeks). I was advised of and understand the long term risk of radiation side effects and felt the advantages of SBRT/CyberKnife treatment far out weighted the long term risk.
I completed CyberKnife treatment (May 7, 2008) by Dr. Christopher King. Fourteen days post CK treatment there were minimal side effects. I continued to work every day during and after treatment.
It is now over six months post CyberKnife treatment. I am 110% of pretreatment base line for all related functions. The plus 10% is from improved urinations. Before treatment I would get up 3-4 times a night now I typically get up once. My PSA at the six month follow up was 1.09 ng/ml. SBRT/CyberKnife has treated my prostate cancer and has improved my quality of life.
The key messages I hope to impart to you today are:
1. The previous Medicare contractor in California, NHIC, provided coverage for SBRT/CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer.
2. SBRT/CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer is consistent with the Presidents statement from his press conference announcing the MMA of 2003. With this law, we’re giving older Americans better choices and more control over their health care, so they can receive the modern medical care they deserve.
3. SBRT/CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer is consistent with Mark B. McClellan, M.D. PhD Administrator. “Our nation has made a promise, a solemn promise to America’s seniors. We have pledged to help our citizens find affordable medical care in the later years of life.”
4. As outlined in the CMS Statement of Work for the Palmetto Medicare Jurisdiction (J1), and on Palmettos Website: The MAC shall select the least restrictive Local Coverage Determination (LCD) from the existing LCDs on a single topic when consolidating LCDs. CMS has identified that there may be instances where the decision to implement “no policy” would meet the definition of the “least restrictive LCD”.
5. There are no prostate cancer treatment options without serious risk of permanent side effects and biological failure.
6. The patient in consultation with his doctor(s) must decide what treatments are appropriate for their unique circumstance.
a. Some patients live in rural areas with limited or no local treatment centers.
b. Some patients have medical conditions that make surgery a high risk.
c. Some patients have limited mobility making treatment very difficult.
d. Some patients continue to work full time and this trend is increasing. Making treatment recovery and time away from work an important factor.
e. Some patients have limited financial resources that limit treatment options due to cost of travel, food and lodging.
7. The majority of Medicare Contractors include SBRT/CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer.
8. Blue Shield of California the largest insurer in the state, in July of 2008, added SBRT/CyberKnife to their policy for treatment of prostate cancer.
All of the above support Medicare coverage of SBRT/CyberKnife treatment for cancer of the prostate.
Please consider the fundamental right of patients to make treatment decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctors and families, and for the patients well being and overall quality of life.

I have no financial interest in Accuray Inc., Stanford University Medical Center or any other medical provider.
Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today.”
END
Palmetto GBA, is not following the CMS requirement as it is has not selected the least restrictive Local Coverage Determination. The policy that has been implemented in the state of California has been taken from two states, NV and HI where there were no CyberKnife Facilities at the time the policy was written. In contrast, in California there are 9 CyberKnife facilities have been treating prostate cancer for several years. By implementing this policy in California, Palmetto will be restricting coverage. Not only is this not in line with the CMS statement of work or Palmettos own statements related to policy consolidation, it is not consistent with current medical practice in California. Speaking from a cancer patients’ point of view this is unconscionable. SBRT is arguably the best prostate cancer treatment option today.

Medicare must consider the fundamental right of patients to make decisions for themselves in consultation with their doctors and families. Patients should have access to treatments that offer better quality of life, that are less invasive, limit time away from work, provide fewer limitations for recovery, less time spent in treatment, that are more convenience and far less costly not only in terms of coinsurance obligations but also the cost of travel to and from treatment facilities, and offer better biological cure rate and fewer side effects. All these factors favor prostate cancer treatment with SBRT/CyberKnife and are the patients unalienable rights to choose.

HHS/CMS has a site to give them feed back. Let them know how you feel about taking away a cancer treatment in some states while others allow it. This is an example of the incompetence of our government (HHS/CMS). Let them know how you feel using this link to CMS feed back http://questions.cms.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/cmshhs.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_prods=8,9,536

Write and call CMS management. Find the names of the Orig Chart(1) link and then enter the name in the Employee Directory(2) to get the phone number, fax number, e-mal address and mailing address. Send your comments to Palmetto management(3), Sent your comments by e-mal and fax to the president(4), Send you comments to the Senators and Representatives (5) and Open Congress allows you to post comments for each Senator and Representative.(6)

Please gather support to put down HR 45, The Blair Holt Licensing and Record Act of 2009. This is yet another stupid Liberal push to control every aspect of the “chattering classes” lives, thank you sen. Chuck from NY.

POORER AMERICAN ACTIVE DUTY U.S. MILITARY AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE RISKING AND LOSING THEIR LIVES FOR ALL OF US ~ HAVE FAMILIES BACK HOME WHO ARE ALSO DYING WITHOUT HEALTH*CARE *
~ PRESIDENT OBAMA AND U.S. SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE OF MAINE BOTH KNOW THAT ANY FUTURE HEALTHCARE PLAN FOR OUR NEW AMERICA NEEDS TO ALSO ENCOMPASS ALL FAMILY MEMBERS OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS…ANYTHING LESS WOULD BE UN*AMERICAN ~ JUST MAYBE AMERICA NEEDS A FEW MORE REVOLVING DOORS IN OUR U.S. CONGRESS *
OUR COUNTRY COULD REALLY USE MANY MORE SINCERE AMERICANS LIKE THIS SPECIAL U.S.SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE FROM MAINE WHO CONSIDERS THIS COUNTRIES 45 MILLION POOR AMERICAN MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITHOUT PROPER HEALTH CARE LIKE HER OWN FAMILY AHEAD OF HER ELECTED POLITICAL FAMILY **
45 MILLION POORER AMERICANS HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL WITH THE PEOPLES U.S. SENATOR SNOWE OF MAINE.
LAWYERS FOR POOR AMERICANS CAN BE FOUND WITH ANY SEARCH ENGINE.
424-247-2013

NOW THAT THE PEOPLES U.S.CONGRESS HAS DOCUMENTED OUR UNJUST AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM,HAVE YOU HEARD IF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN WE CAN ALL WATCH THESE POSSIBLE WRONGFUL EXECUTIONS TAKE PLACE ?

TROY DAVIS & MUMIA ABU ~JAMAL ~ ARE HAVING PRAYERS FOR JUSTICE SAID FOR THEM WORLD~WIDE ..WE CAN ALL ONLY HOPE AND PRAY THAT EVERYONE IN OUR U.S.CONGRESS THAT KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS HOW UNJUST OUR U.S JUDICIAL SYSTEM CAN BE WITH OUR POORER AMERICANS,BECOMES ACTIVE IN MAKING SURE THAT TROY DAVIS OF GEORGIA AND MUMIA ABU~JAMAL OF PENNSYLVANIA RECEIVE FAIR AND JUST TRIALS BEFORE ANY POSSIBLE WRONGFUL EXECUTIONS TAKE PLACE.

LAWYERS FOR POOR AMERICANS IS A WWW VOLUNTEEER LOBBY THAT SINGS OUT FOR OUR MIDDLE~CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS. WE CAN BE FOUND WITH ANY SEARCH ENGINE BY OUR NAME OR TELEPHONE NUMBER.(424-247-2013)

MANY MORE IN OUR U.S. CONGRESS ARE NOW FINDNG OUT THE TRUTH OTHER THEN SENATOR WEBB AND THOSE OTHERS IN THE NOW… IN CONGRESS

~ SHOULD POORER AMERICANS HAVE FAITH THAT OUR U.S. SUPREME COURT IS WELL AWARE THAT AMERICAN PESTIGE INTERNATIONALLY IS VERY MUCH BASED ON HOW WELL WE TREAT OUR OWN CITIZENS~

U.S. SUPREME COURT TO THE RESCUE OF MIDDLE~CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS OR IS THIS JUST ANOTHER BAD DREAM THAT REAL JUSTICE WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO NOT BE AFFORDED US LITTLE PEOPLE HERE IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD ??

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN OTHER THEN SATAN HOW TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY ON ONE HAND PARDONS FORMER TEXAS INMATE TIMOTHY COLE WHO WAS WRONGFULLY EXECUTED WITHOUT BEING ALLOWED TO EXONERATE HIMSELF USING DNA TESTING IN TEXAS , AND WITHIN THE SAME MONTH THIS SAME GOVERNOR RICK PERRY OF TEXAS DENIES YET ANOTHER DNA TEST PRIOR ANOTHER POSSIBLE WRONGFUL EXECUTION OF HANK SKINNER ???

If you are apart of the American unemployed or share the same views as the unemployed and want to have a peaceful march on Washington to show that we do need our unemployment or in support of unemployment, email me at unemploymentmarch@yahoo.com. This has to be done, a peaceful stand needs to take place soon to make a difference. Before a lot of Americans lose the little bit that they do have. We didn’t ask for the economy to be this way and it is not our fault that we can not find jobs all at the same time. We worked all of our lives and now that we need help, the people in congress is saying no! We are the ones that help pay for wars, national disasters, and the congressmen paychecks. Now they are telling us that they cannot pass a bill so we can feed and house our families. What is more important the “Oil Spill” or the unemployed and their children. I don’t think so, it’s time for a peaceful march, email me at unemploymentmarch@yahoo.com, to make a peaceful stand now.

Dear Senator Sessions,
S.3520 needs to be passed immediately. There are 15 million Americans who are “unemployed through no fault of their own,” and who are also frantically attempting to find new jobs that do not exist. The majority of these 15 million have a family dependent upon their income, so that increases the number to possibly 30 or even 45 million Americans who are in imminent danger of losing everything. When this happens, the financial and moral ramifications for this country will be dire indeed. I’ll say it again— S.3520 needs to be passed immediately! Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

This extention on unemployment has to be passed. I’am an American and have been unemployed since dec 2009.I look for work almost everyday with no luck at all!This is the first time in my 42 yrs of life that I havent had a job.An American born and raised in here, who needs your help! I have finished my 28 weeks of unemployment, and have no teir 1 or extention to help me with my bills.THIS BILL ON JULY 12TH NEEDS TO BE PASSED IMMEDIATELY!Or I go on the street to live. Vote yes! I thank you for your attention on this matter.

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